AT RISE:
It's 24 hours later. The spot is on Kane's door. A knife blade slides down the crack, into the chain and jerks forward, breaking the link. The blade glides to the catch. The door swings open. Without a noise, Uncle Seoul enters and creeps into the bedroom. The lights flash on. After a shout and a grunt, it becomes quiet.
KANE
(Stumbles from his bedroom, a pillowcase over his head, hands tied, and a gun in his back.)
How’d you get in?
SEOUL
(Shoves the mail off the chair, pushes Kane down, and talks while tying him to the chair.)
You should be more careful. Old apartment doors aren’t safe. Your bolt …show more content…
Characters with magnificent flaws. Julius Caesar, a study on how ambition blinds us. Before you butted in, I was close to fulfilling my dreams. But unlike Caesar, I have risen.
KANE
Ambition? You never worked a day in your life.
SEOUL
(Struts around him, slurs a little now.)
One day I’ll perform my ending to Caesar’s death scene. Great drama, even without . . .
(Lunges at Kane, laughs when Kane flinches.)
An audience or a dagger. My Caesar stabs his adversaries and prevails.
KANE
You twisted sonofabitch—
SEOUL
(Throws away the empty, opens the next.54)
Only my dagger. But you twisted her life with that pretentious New England Academy. Oxford arriving on the Mayflower, prancing their values around in ceremonial robes.
KANE
You stalked her? It was her safe place to learn while she hid from the bad memories.
SEOUL
More good than bad. Hates that school. She’ll come with me for all I offer.
KANE
She despises you. She’ll never go.
SEOUL
She’ll be glad I’ve rescued her.
KANE
You’re crazy. She can’t forgive that shit.
SEOUL
There’s nothing to forgive. I did everything to make her happy. Saved her life. Brought her to America. And now I want her …show more content…
Fear of death was his worst fear, worse than dying. But I learned a lot. Do you know the quickest way to a man’s heart?
KANE
What?
SEOUL
(Lunges at Kane’s chest, punches him.)
Through his ribs. Ha-ha. Pretty funny isn’t it?
KANE
No.
SEOUL
Well, maybe it’s better when I’m holding a knife.
KANE
Just kill me. You’re gonna anyway. What is all this talk proving?
SEOUL
(Flips his knife. The blade ticks Kane's throat.)
That it’s the waiting that hurts the most. That’s why they serve revenge cold. A quick death is too small a price for your sins. You agree?
KANE
You kill him, or taunt him to death? What animal are you? You’re too evil for human.
SEOUL
Actually. You and I. We’re quite similar.
KANE
You'd trade on her body. I sent her to school. Nothing’s the same.
SEOUL
Don’t judge what you don’t understand . . .
(Crushes the empty. Acts drunk opens the next, leans into Kane, talking louder.87)
It was a struggle. Without me, she was dead. In the open sea, a wave swamped our boat. I was the one who scooped her out of the ocean and sucked the stinking seawater out of her lungs so she could breathe. I GAVE HER LIFE! . . . What did you do?